Improvement in railway-car brakes



UvrrEn STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE A. EEAOH,

OE TOLEDO, OHIO.

IMPRKOVEMENT IN RAILWAY-CAR BRAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,319, dated June 23,1874 application filed May 1, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE A. BEACH, of Toledo, in the county of Lucasand State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Tighteningor Setting Brakes upon Railroad or Railway Gars; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full and exact description of the same.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a plan view of the invention,showing the device in operation; Fig. 2, the same, with the mechanismOut of gear; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section, showing the devicein operation; Fig. 4, a side elevation with the mechanism out of gear.

My invention relates to certain combinations and arrangements of devicesand appliances, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and. use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe its construction and operation.

It may be properly termed a car-brake. In describing my invention Iintend the word rod to mean either rod, chain, cable, or rope, and theword iron to mean any metal, wood, or other material practicable for theconstruction and use of this invention.

I connect iron straps G G to the beams P P, and to the ends of thesestraps I fasten frame F by bolts or other means, so that it turnseasily, allowing sufficient space at the top between the frame and upperstrap for the springing of beams and trucks. At the ends of frame F areholes, in which shaft or spindle E rests 'and turns. Shaft E hasjournals at each end, with a shoulder at the bottom end. The journal atthe top is of sufficient length to allow the shaft first to enter thehole in the end of frame at the top and then dropinto its place in thelower hole at the end of the frame. On shaft or spindle E is fastenedgear-wheel B, which rests upon the lower shoulder. Above it, on shaft E,is fastened pulley-wheel C, its hib resting on and joining the hub ofgear-wheel B. Around these two hubs the coupling-iron D fits, and turnsfreely. This coupling-iron is pnt on the shaft E before wheel C is puton and fast ened. Without any other connection frame F, with itsoccupants B, C, D, and E, swings easily back and forth between axle Oand beams I P, and is supported in its position by straps or frameattached` to truck-beams P P. On car-axle O is fastened or constructedin one or more parts worm, groove, or thread A, which operates upongear-wheel B. This worm, groove, or thread may be constructed andwrought when the axle is made. Bod L connects with, and is bolted to,pulley-wheel C O11 lefthand side, and when the brake is off rest-s asshown in Fig. 2. ARod L connects with top end of lever N, which isbolted to the left-hand brake-beam at or near its center. Bod M connectsthe lower end of lever N to right-hand brake beam. Bod H connectscoupler D to angular iron I, and rod K connects the end of foot-lever Jto the upper end of angular iron I, which is fastened to the lower edgeand end ofcar at the side of bumperblock B. Foot-lever J may be placedupon the platform or top of the car. Ratchet Q holds the lever J inposition when the brakes are on.

Vhether the car is moving to the right or left, soon as lever J is setin ratchet Q., it causes frame F to be drawn forward, bringing the gearB in contact with worm A, which turns gear-wheel B around until theterminitooth passes through the worin A, and rests and bears on theoutside or end of the worm. This movement also causes pulley C to turnat the same time, and Winds upon its face rod L, the same relativedistance as wheel B turns in proportion to their diameter. The rod L isdrawn forward, and, by the means of lever N, creates a leverage on boththe right and left hand brakes. The tension of the brake is regulated bythe size of gearing or length of rods. The brakes are loosened byreleasing lever J from its connection with ratchet Q. The strain of thebrakes and rods on pulley-wheel C causes frame F to be drawn back,thereby disconnecting wheel B from worm A, and the wheels B and C thenassume their natural position, as shown in plan, Fig. 2.

This invention is best adapted for use upon box freight cars, which are110W in general use on railways. By connecting rods from one brake toanother they may be controlled and managed from the locomotive of thetrain, by steam or hand power.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isv 1. The pivoted horizontal angular frame FS and stationary horizontal arms G, attached to the ear-frame l?, forsupporting the drum C and `segment B, whereby the oogged seglnent ismade to engage horizontally with a worm, A, upon the axle O,substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In combination with oord or rod H, the yoke D, situated between thedrum C and segment-Wheel B, so constructed as to permit the axle E toturn within it, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the horizontal angular pivoted frame F S andstationary horizontal arins G, drum C, segment-wheel B, and yoke D,suspended by the vertical axis E in the frame F, all constructed andadapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

lVituesses: GEO. A. BEACH.

Trios. X'TANsToNE, C. M. CROSBY.

